Chapter Three

Camilla's eyes flew open, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned her surroundings, half-expecting to see Rigs standing above her with that malicious grin plastered across his face.

Instead of the cold, unforgiving walls of her cell, she found herself in the back seat of a truck. Her breath came in ragged gasps as the remnants of her nightmare lingered, threatening to pull her back into the depths of fear. Then, someone grasped her arm, and she recoiled instinctively, ready to lash out at whoever dared touch her.

But when she looked up, she was met with a familiar and concerned face—Shadow. Relief flooded through her at the sight of him, his presence a comforting anchor.

"You're safe, Camilla. Just a bad dream," Shadow said.

She took a moment to steady her breathing, allowing his words to sink in. This wasn't her cell, and Rigs wasn't lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce.

She was free, and this was her new reality.

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she glanced out the truck windows and saw another truck, filled with the other women. She sighed in relief. They were all safe, free from the clutches of their captors.

As the realization washed over her, Camilla reached out and pinched herself, the sharp sting of pain confirming this was indeed reality.

Camilla couldn't believe she had let herself fall asleep in a stranger's car, especially after everything she had been through.

As she sat beside Shadow, she felt a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude for his presence. Camilla couldn ' t put her finger on it, but with Shadow beside her, she found a strange sense of comfort.

"I can't believe I fell asleep in a stranger's car," she confessed. "The last time I let my guard down like this..."

She trailed off, memories of the past flooding her mind. Despite the presence of another biker at the wheel, it felt as though it was just the two of them, sharing a rare moment of intimacy.

"Yeah?" Shadow's gentle prodding encouraged her to continue.

Camilla hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something in Shadow's gaze urged her to continue.

"I left the house without telling my brother or anyone else where I was going," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted to go jogging at the nearby park, clear my head, you know?"

Instinctively, she drew her knees to her chest, seeking solace in the familiar gesture of self-protection. But then, with a surge of determination, she straightened her posture, refusing to appear weak or helpless any longer.

"What happened next?" Shadow's voice was laced with genuine concern.

As he reached out, placing his hand over hers, Camilla felt a warmth spread through her, banishing the lingering chill of her nightmares.

He stroked the exposed skin of her knee, his touch gentle yet reassuring. She allowed herself to lean into his touch, to enjoy it, because it was temporary. Whatever this strange connection they had formed, it wouldn ' t last.

"I started on a less-used path which ended at a parking lot. I was refilling my water bottle when a black unmarked van pulled up..." Camilla trailed off, the memories of that fateful day flooding back with painful clarity.

Shadow could probably figure out the rest, so she didn't continue.

"I'm sorry for everything you and the other women have gone through," Shadow said, his voice filled with genuine empathy.

Despite his reassuring words, a seed of doubt began to gnaw at her insides. Outside the window, they passed a sign welcoming them to Hanging Grove. Camilla couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty about Shadow and his motorcycle club's motives. What if they were just pretending to be benevolent saviors, only to turn out like the Reapers?

"This town serves as our base," Shadow explained, probably sensing her apprehension.

His words only served to heighten her anxiety. Were they taking her and the other women to their MC headquarters?

Camilla needed to know what was going to happen next, needed reassurance that we wouldn't be subjected to the same horrors they had escaped from.

"The thought of that frightens you," Shadow observed, his keen insight unsettling.

"I don't want to be in unfamiliar territory," Camilla confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That's a good point. Let me give Priest a call," Shadow said, surprising her with his willingness to address her concerns.

Camilla found herself listening in on his conversation, the tension coiling in her stomach as she waited for his response.

"We'll put you and the other women up in a motel near town," Shadow finally said, his words soothing her frayed nerves.

A motel sounded like a much better alternative, offering a sense of safety and freedom that had eluded her for so long. It would make Camilla feel less like a prisoner, and for that she was grateful.

As they arrived at the Lemon Lime Motel, the bikers efficiently made arrangements and paid for the rooms. Shadow remained by Camilla's side, which she didn't mind one bit. She couldn't help but wonder if she had developed some sort of savior complex when it came to Shadow.

Scrubbing her face tiredly, Camilla resolved that what she needed most was a long shower and a good night's sleep to clear her mind.

Shadow received a motel key for a room on the first floor from one of his MC brothers.

"Let me escort you to your room," he offered gently.

Too weary to argue, Camilla simply nodded in agreement. As they entered the room, she observed that it was worn-down but clean. The sight of the bed made her envious. It felt like ages since she had last slept in a proper bed.

"Shadow, what's going to happen next?" Camilla couldn ' t help but ask.

"Well, I was going to ride into town, maybe drop off some dinner at your doorstep before heading back to the clubhouse," he replied.

Sensing her unspoken question, he nodded in understanding.

"Once you and the others are settled in, we'll work on contacting your loved ones and friends. Are you up for that task now?" he asked, glancing at the hotel phone.

Camilla shivered at the thought of facing her brother again. Would he even bother looking for her? Or had he already written her off as dead?

She had left the house that day after a terrible argument with Fernando. He had wanted to marry her off to a rival drug lord, and she had vehemently refused, standing her ground despite the consequences.

Realizing Shadow was waiting for a response, Camilla shook her head. "Not today," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet room. "Tomorrow maybe. Today still doesn't even feel real."

"I understand," Shadow said. "You must be tired. I'll let you settle down. I'll still be making a food run, for you and the other women. I'll leave the food on the steps, you don't have to answer the door."

"Okay," Camilla replied, her exhaustion weighing heavily upon her.

Despite the temptation to collapse onto the bed, she knew she needed to feel clean first, to wash away the remnants of her captivity.

As Shadow turned and walked toward the door, Camilla called out to him.

"Shadow … thank you, for everything," she said.

"Everything's going to be better from this point on," he told her.

With that, he exited the room, leaving Camilla alone with her thoughts.

"I'm not sure about that," Camilla whispered to herself, dreading the call to her brother. With a weary sigh, she dragged her tired body to the bathroom.

Camilla stood under the cascading water, the sound of the rushing stream drowning out the mess in her mind. She scrubbed furiously at her skin, trying to rid herself of the lingering dirt and grime on her body. For a moment, she didn't think she could ever feel clean again.

The rumble of a motorcycle engine outside snapped her out of her reverie, and she froze, her heart pounding in her chest.

"It's just Shadow," she murmured to herself, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Camilla finally turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself in one of the plush robes provided by the motel. She dumped the rags she wore in the trash.

As she emerged from the bathroom, a knock sounded at her door, sending a jolt of anticipation through her veins. With a mix of nervousness and excitement, she peered through the peephole before opening the door.

"Hey," Shadow greeted her, his grin lighting up his face.

He looked at her flushed cheeks to the rest of her body and back again, and she felt a rush of warmth at the intensity of his gaze. Nice to know he seemed attracted to her … and didn't look at her like a victim.

"I got you some burger and fries," Shadow said, holding up a takeout bag in his hand.

Camilla's stomach grumbled in response, and she couldn't help but let out a groan.

"I could eat a burger," she admitted, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Have you eaten? Would you like to come inside?" she offered.

Shadow hesitated, his gaze searching hers for any sign of discomfort. "You don't mind the extra company?" he asked.

"Not if it's you," Camilla replied, her heart skipping a beat as he widened his smile.

" Then I'll let myself in. I was planning on eating in the parking lot," Shadow said, stepping past her and into the room.

As Camilla closed the door behind him, she couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his mind.

Camilla sat on the bed, the aroma of the freshly delivered food wafting through the air. Her stomach rumbled. Nothing good could come out of this, she knew.

Shadow had no knowledge of her family connection, no understanding of who she truly was, and strangely, she found solace in that ignorance. To him, she was just some girl who had found herself caught in a bad situation.

"You're not afraid of me?" Shadow's question broke through the silence, drawing Camilla's attention away from her food. He had taken a seat at the desk.

She paused, considering his words carefully before responding. "I feel safe with you, and I'm aware of how foolish that sounds," she admitted.

"It's not foolish at all. There's something about you I can't quite put my finger on either," Shadow confessed. "A better man would probably let you have a quiet evening alone, but—"

"You're a good man, Shadow," she interjected.

"You don't know a thing about me." Shadow chuckled good-naturedly.

Under the dim motel light, he looked amused and sexy at the same time. Again, she wondered how his lips would feel against her and his callused touch on every inch of her.

She swallowed, dismissing the image of Shadow above her. Her nipples hardened and she felt a little moisture gather between her legs. An inappropriate reaction, given the situation. Good thing the robe she wore was fluffy and thick. She focused on their conversation again.

"I've been around bad men my entire life. Believe me, I know," Camilla whispered.

Realizing she had revealed more about herself than intended, she quickly dropped the subject, diverting her attention back to the food before them. As she took the first bite of her burger, a moan of pleasure escaped her lips.

"Oh, I missed this so much," she murmured, savoring the familiar taste.

Shadow offered her an appreciative look before digging into his own meal. Tomorrow might be filled with uncertainties but for now, Camilla found solace in the simple act of sharing a meal together.